Portuguese Fado singer Mariza performed Tuesday night in Cannes at the  “Voices of the World” concert where XXXVIII MIDEM is currently being held. She is being honored at theses festivities as a “Star of Fado.”

            Sunday, Mariza was awarded the European Border Breaker Award, for international sales of her first CD, “Fado Curvo.”

            Also honored were the Thrills, Carla Bruni, Tiziano Ferro, Las Ketchup, The Darkness, Lasgo Saybia and Masterplan.

            Among the titles she will perform are “Cavaleiro Monge” (Fernando Pessoa/ Mario Pacheco) and “Aneis do Meu Cabelo” (Antonio Botto/ Tiago Machado). She was accompanied by Antonio Neto on acoustic guitar, Luis Guerreiro on Portuguese guitar and Fernando de Sousa on acoustic bass.

            Mariza is a 31-year-old singer who has gained attention by singing fado where many her age and younger have neglected the art form. With many artists her age turning to other musical ventures i.e. pop, rock, and, more recently, even hip hop, Mariza has found a place for herself singing in a style that is perhaps, Portugal’s most internationally recognized.